Paper-folding machine.



No. 846,123. PATBNTED MAR. 5, 1907.

M.- MEHLE. PAPER FOLDING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED DEG- 8. 1906. 4

3 SHEETS-SHEET 1- I i i i 77 iznemu THE NoRRIs PETERS c0. WASHINGTON, 0. c.

No! 846,123. PATENTED MAR. 5,' 1907.

M. MEHLE. PAPER FOLDING MACHINE.

APPLIGATION FILED DEC. 8, 1906.

3 SHEETS-SBEET 2.

C f .a IIIHIIIHI l f a /1/6Z.7L6J l Ewe/2507 HE NORRIS muses 0a., WASHINGTON, n! c I No. 846,123.

M. MBH'LE.

PAPER FOLDING MACHINE. APPLICATION FILED 1})E(].8, 1906.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

wnedded Zzvenfe ZZZ THE Noam: Pn'iRs cm, wnsnmnrcn, p, c.

PATENTED MAR. 5, 1907.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

MICHAEL MEHLE, OF LAIBAOH, AUSTRIA-HUNGARY, ASSIGNOR OF TWO- THIRDS TO EMERICH C. MAYER, OF GRATZ, AUSTRIA-HUNGARY, AND ANTON DECMAN, OF LAIBAOH, AUSTRIA-HUN GARY.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented March 5, 1907 Application filed December 8, 1906. Serial No- 346.866.

T0 ILZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, MIoHAEL MEHLE, a subject of the Emperor of Austria, residing at Laibach, in Carniola, Austria-Hungary,

have invented certain new and usefulImopen more easily and regularly than is the.

case with bags which are not folded in-this manner.

For the purposes of the invention the apparatus consists of a peculiarly-formed bending plate or piece which coacts with a plate hereinafter called a table. The free longitudinal edge of the said table is surrounded by the bending-plate, which forms a spiral curve of one hundred and eighty degrees. The bending-plate lies over the edge of the table and at the inlet bends downward and inward beneath the edge of the table, said edge having a gradually-diminishing crosssection.

The table forms the edge round whichthe paper is bent and together with the bendingplate forms the fold. The bending-plate is arranged over the table in such a manner that it forms, with the edge thereof, along its whole length a slot or passage-way of equal breadth and height, in which the fold is produced without the place or line of the fold being previously marked in any way by any other apparatus.

The sheets of paper to be folded always take up the same position in the device. By adjusting the table transversely to the direction in which the paper is fed the table, together with the bending-plate connected thereto, is moved in one or the other direction, and the edge of the table about which the paper is folded takes up a different position relatively to said paper, and therefore determines the point at which the sheets passing to the folding device are to be folded.

Rollers lying above the table serve for supporting a band or belt which holds down the part of the sheet of paper lying on the table and guides the saidpaper through the folding device. The table toward the paper-outlet end has a continually-diminishing cross-section in order to enable the part of the sheet hanging beneath the table to be brought, by means of the bending-plate, as near as possible to the part of the sheet on top of the table. At the moment when the now folded sheet passes over the end of the table it may pass between pressing-rollers, (not shown,) which make the bend formed over the edge of the table into a sharp edge.

The rollers holding down the band or belt lie above the table and are mounted in bars, which are themselves fastened to brackets screwed to the table and participate in the motion thereof. Over the rollers there is also mounted a roller serving for tensioning the belt.

The accompanying drawings illustrate a folding device constructed in accordance with my invention.

Figure l is a plan view thereof. Figs. 2 and 3 are sections on the lines A B and U D of Fig. 1, respectively. Fig. 4 is an end elevation seen from the paper-outlet; Fig. 5 is a vertical longitudinal section through the device; and Fig. 6 is a detail plan of the table, together with the bendingplate, the supporting-arms for the latter being removed for the sake of clearness.

The table a is supported at one edge in prismatic guides b b and is adjustable thereon by screw-spindle c transversely to the direction of motion of the sheetof paper, as indicated by the arrow. Two arms (1 extend over the table and support the bending-plate f. This plate from the paper-inlet end to the paper-outlet lies over the edge of the table and parallel thereto, while the part thereof extending beyond the edge or the table bends from the horizontal plane downward under the table in a spiral curve and becomes continually broader toward the paperoutlet and at the same time continually ap proaohes more and more the horizontal position, so that the two ends of the bendingplate are at an angle of approximately one hundred and eighty degrees to each other.

The sheets of paper are fed automatically by means of a suitable device or by hand. to a feeding-in roller Z, which coaets with a belt 76, arranged over rollers 7t and tensioned. by means of a roller j. The roller Z is mounted on the table a and moves therewith. In its further course the sheet of paper (the position of which before it is fed in is shown in Fig. 1) is held down by the belt 7t and guided through the folding device, whereby it is successively bent into the positions shown. in Figs. 2, 3, and 4.

The table edge 11, which coacts with the bending-platef, is sharpened or tapered, and thus, with the bent-down part of the bending-plate, forms the slit or passage-way for receiving the paper to be foldz-id. Toward the outlet end the edge of the table -nas a continuously-diminishing cross-scetion in order to permit complete bending or folding together of the paper.

I claim 1. In a paper-folding machine, the combination with a table, of a bending-plate cooperating with one edge of the table to form a slot of equal width throughout the length of the plate, and an extending portion on the plate forming a spiral, whereby the receiving and outlet ends of said portion lie at an angle of one hundred and eighty degrees to each other.

2. In a paper-folding machine, the combination with a table, of a berdirigplate having a portion thereof extending along the entire top and edge of the table parallel thereto forming a slot of equal width and heigh longitudinally thereof and an extending portion on said plate curving under the table forming a spiral, whereby the receiving and outlet ends of said extending portion lie at an angle of one hundred and eighty degrees to each other.

3. In a paper-folding machine, the combination with a table, of a bending-plate forming a slot of equal area throughout its length with one edge of the table, and a spirallyformed extended portion 011 said plate having its receiving end lying parallel to the top of the table and its outlet end parallel to the bottom of the table.

4. In a paper-foldin g machine, the combination with a table, of a bending-plate projecting over one edge thereof and parallel thereto, and a spirally-formed extended portion on said plate having a narrow receiving end portion. parallel to t to top of the table and a wider outlet portion parallel to th. bottom of the table.

5. In a paper-folding machine, the combination with a table, of a bendir ate projecting over the table parallel to the top ard one edge thereof throughout the entire length of the table, and having a portion extending beyond the edge of the table parallel to the top thereof at one end and bending downward under the table in a spiral curve terminating in a plane parallel to the under side of the table.

6. In a paper-folding machine, the combination of a table gradually diminishing in ss from its receiving to its outlet end,

thic \i' .e a bending-plate projecting over one edge of the table parallel thereto and forming a slot of equal height throughout its length, said plate extending beyond the edge of the table at its receiving end and bending downward under the table and terminating in a plane parallel with the under side of the table.

7. In a paper-folding machine, the combi nation of a table t poring in crosssection late ally and lon itudinally, a bending-plate mounted. with one edge parallel to the top of the table and having an extended portion prejecting beyond the edge of the table parallel to the top tl: ere cf and bending downward under the table and terminating in aplane parallel to the underside of the table and in close proximity thereto.

8. In a paper-folding machine, the combination of a table l.;.avmg its under side beveled toward tl o top both longitudinally and laterally cf the table, means for supporting one edge cf the latter, a herding-plate having one edge parallel to the free edge of the table and liav ng an extended portion projecting beyond said edge parallel to the top of the table and beitdirg downward under the table and terminating in a plane parallel to the under side of the table and in close proximity thereto.

9. In a paper-folding machine, the combination with. supporting members, of a table ltaving its under side beveled both longitudinally and laterally and adjustably mounted in the supporting members, supporting-arms n'iounted on and extending over the table, a bending-plate mounted on said arms and hav- 116 edge parallel to and extending over tlie free edge of the table and provided with an extended portion projecting beyond said free edge parallel to the top of the table and bending downward under the table and terminating in a plane parallel to the under side of the table and in close proximity thereto.

10. In. a paper-folding machine the combination of a table, a bending-plate projecting over one edge thereof and parallel thereto, and having a portion extending beyond the edge of the table parallel with the top thereof at one end and bending downward under the table in a spiral curve terminating in a plane parallel to the under side of the table and met to adjust the table transversely to the direction in which the paper 18 fed thereon.

In testimony wher of I have hereunto set my hand in presence of two subscribing witnesses.

MICHAEL MEHLE.

itnesses: 1

Jesus RUBAsei-r, ALvEsTo S. HooUE. 

